Kenya Launches Innovative Maritime Security Anti-piracy Solutions

Over 4,000 former Kenya Navy sailors, police officers and Army veterans undergo maritime security training to fight Somalia piracy in the Horn of Africa and High Risk waters worldwide.

Fairfax, Virginia (I-Newswire) November 25, 2012 - Homeland Defense Counter-terrorism Training Corporation™, a US-based global security risk consultancy, today announced the launch of a comprehensive maritime shipboard security officer (SSO) and vessel security officer manpower talent database to support the hiring needs of the international maritime community.

In late October 2012, Kevin James, a US Navy veteran and CEO of Homeland Defense Counter-terrorism Training Corp., traveled to Mombasa, Kenya to meet with directors of the Kenya Maritime Authority. The meeting was arranged in cooperation with retired Major General, Pastor O. Awitta (retired) former Commander of the Kenya Navy and Jonathan Egalal, President of Jegalal Advanced Enterprise Solutions, a licensed manpower staffing firm also headquartered in Nairobi, Kenya.

An agreement was reached to begin offering IMO and ISPS Code compliant maritime training and certification to approximately 4,500 veterans of the Kenya Navy and other African security professionals. The objective is to provide an intelligent, cost affordable solution to help mitigate the growing threat of piracy in the Horn of Africa region and worldwide.

“Many international shipping companies don’t realize that Kenya shares its border with Somalia,” Kevin James commented. “The close proximity of Kenya to Somalia will significantly reduce hiring, mobilization and deployment costs for an employer. This effort will also boost the economy of Kenya as the world reaches out and hire its citizens to satisfy the heavy demand for qualified manpower”, said James.

The economic benefits of hiring Kenyans are wonderful, but from a practical perspective, veterans of the Kenya Navy bring invaluable wisdom and experience gained from working in the region. Its familiar waters, in their own backyard. Furthermore, Kenya brings a greater cultural, political and geographic awareness unfamiliar to foreigners.

In May of 2012, the Kenya Maritime Authority earned the distinguished honor of being inducted onto the International Maritime Organization (IMO) ‘white list’. This is a remarkable accomplishment. IMO white list inclusion means that a qualified seafarer having completed Kenya Maritime Authority approved training and vetting is fully qualified to work anywhere in the world. Shipping companies and prospective employers can rest assured that certified mariners from Kenya possess a level of knowledge and demonstrated competency of the highest international standards.

Employers who choose to hire from the Homeland Defense Corporation maritime security talent pool will have access to a full suite of integrated solutions designed to better help them monitor, evaluate, predict and analyze global maritime incidents in real-time, follow emerging trends, plan vessel transit, communications, and much more.

For more information on Homeland Defense Counter-terrorism Corporation’s maritime solutions, visit the company website at: www.hostilecontroltactics.com www.hostilecontroltactics.com or call (804) 491-9860

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